SALVATION ARMY 
AN EXPOSURE 

WILLIAMS 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



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THE AUTHOR. 



The 

Salvation Army 

Today 



By S. B. WILLIAMS 

V 

A Former Officer 



AN EXPOSURE 

Revealing an Unholy and Unethical Condition of 

Affairs Not Suspected by the 

American Public. 



Chicago, Illinois: Lincoln, Nebraska; 

George W. Perry, The Church Press, 

1237 W. Madison St. Box 676. 



Price 25 Cents 
Cloth Cover, SO Cents. 
Copyright, 1915, by S. B. Williams. 



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To 

OUR COMMON HUMANITY 
EVERYWHERE 

This Book Is Dedicated. 



o fS rQ 

APR -9 1915 

©CU397474 



PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION 



The first edition of this work, which was 
more largely personal, and in the main a re- 
sume of the author's experiences as a field and 
staff officer of the Salvation Armies, met with 
a ready response on the part of many inter- 
ested in the sociological problems of the day. 
Being firmly convinced that it is the desire 
of the American public to understand more 
fully the uses to which their contributions to 
charitable organizations are put, and realizing 
that what I have observed and experienced 
in the work of the Salvation Armies is of vital 
interest to a large part of the Christian and 
business public, I therefore consider it my 
duty to place this information at the disposal 
of those interested. In this second edition, 
the personal has been as much as possible 
eliminated; the facts and conclusions herein 
contained are the result of years of close study 
and observation, as well as of practical expe- 
rience ; and the message thus given to the pub- 
lic must certainly continue to bear fruitage in 
the adjustment of our religious and charitable 
institutions to the social needs and social wel- 
fare of our land. In the accomplishment of 
this purpose I secure my reward. 

STEPHEN B. WILLIAMS. 
Lincoln, Neb., January, 1915. 



CONTENTS 

Chapter 1— A Military Organization. 
Chapter 2 — Other Kindred Organizations. 
Chapter 3 — Rival Armies Fight Each Other. 
Chapter 4 — Moral Aspects of the Situation. 
Chapter 5— A Popular and Luxurious Staff. 
Chapter 6 — Its Financial Interests. 
Chapter 7 — Other Financial Schemes. 
Chapter 8 — The Remedy. 



THE GOODSPEED PRESS 
711 South Dearborn Street 



THE SALVATION ARMY 
TODAY 



CHAPTER I. 
A MILITARY ORGANIZATION 

There are not many who have an adequate 
conception of the immensity of the Salvation 
Army as an organized religious, charitable and 
commercial force. The New York Outlook, dur- 
ing the time ex-president Roosevelt was a con- 
tributing editor, called attention to the fact that, 
"we can no longer think of the Salvation Army 
as a band of zealots holding forth on the street 
corners of our large cities." Rather, it is a vast 
institution with "an annual revenue of thirty 
million dollars/' and Bramwell Booth is in re- 
ality a "benevolent despot." "The property and 
policy, as well as the determination of his suc- 
cessor, are under his absolute control. Whether 
the Salvation Army, organized as at present, can 
maintain itself beyond the life of its present 
leader, is a grave question." 

In order to give the reader a clearer idea of 
the incidents treated in this book, it is thought 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

best to give briefly some of the facts pertaining 
to the Salvation Army as a military organization. 

In the year 1865 William Booth, who had for- 
merly been a Methodist minister, began holding 
meetings in the notorious East End of London. 
This effort developed into what was called "The 
Christian Mission." In 1878, while dictating to 
his secretary a statement for publication, he made 
use of the term "Salvation Army/' which was 
later adopted as the name of the movement. It 
was a happy selection, for this title seemed to 
express more fittingly the purpose of the organi- 
zation, and at the same time it caught the popu- 
lar ear and gained for his work a hearing which 
it might not otherwise have secured. Military 
titles, costumes and discipline were soon adopted, 
and the movement spread to other countries and 
colonies. 

The rules and regulations for the governing of 
the various "officers" connected with this "army" 
were adopted by the "General," who assumed 
for himself the role of military dictator, even 
to the extent of naming his own successor. 
These various "rules" are embodied in several 
books, of hundreds of closely printed pages, and 
go so far as to exact implicit obedience of all 
who connect themselves with this "war," desig- 
nating the clothing they shall wear, how their 
houses shall be furnished, how they shall spend 
every moment of time, as well as the kind of 
food to be eaten. 

Personal liberty is a thing unknown in the Sal- 

10 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

vation Army, where these regulations are adhered 
to. No gifts of any kind are allowed to be 
received by officers on the field, unless it is a 
donation of food to those not receiving full living 
allowance. The great evangelist, "Gipsy ,, Smith, 
was an officer in the Salvation Army for five 
years, and had such phenomenal success while 
stationed at Hanley, England, in 1882, that he 
exerted a most wonderful influence for good. 
The townspeople, as a token of their esteem and 
appreciation, presented him with a gold watch, 
whereupon he was ordered by Bramwell Booth 
to return it to the donors. He refused, and con- 
sequently, as the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia 
relates, "was dismissed for a technical breach 
of discipline." 

In an order concerning "Health/' considerable 
stress is laid upon the value of a vegetarian diet, 
argued not so much from the standpoint of 
health, but for the main purpose of saving money 
for the Army. Paragraph 13 reads: 

"If, therefore, officers will in this and other similar 
directions deny themselves, they will save money and 
set an example to others which will be certain to be 
followed to such an extent as will bring thousands of 
pounds into the Lord's exchequer. If 20,000 people 
abstain from animal or other unnecessary kinds of 
food and save thereby only two shillings a week each 
and give a shilling of it to the Army, it would thereby 
reap an increased income of £52,000 per annum, and 
the self-denying soldiers who handed over this amount 
would be healthier, happier and holier thereby into 
the bargain." 

11 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

Division of Forces 

In order to carry out the military system more 
effectively, there is in each country a Comman- 
der having chief authority, who is appointed by 
the General, and directly amenable to him. In 
America the Salvation Army is under the direc- 
tion of Miss Eva Booth, daughter of the founder, 
who is assisted by a Commissioner at Chicago. 
The entire country is divided into Provinces, and 
these in turn are sub-divided into Divisions, pre- 
sided over by Staff-officers of high rank, and hav- 
ing attached to them an immense retinue of 
Staff-officers of lower grade. (The real work of 
the Salvation Army and the collecting of the 
finances is done by the field officers, in charge of 
the local corps or posts, who usually rank as 
Captains and Lieutenants.) 

Seven years' service as a "field officer" on small 
living allowance is required before there is any 
promotion to even the lowest "staff" rank, the 
grades of which carry with it an increasing sal- 
ary allowance. After the first promotion comes, 
in order to reach the top, an officer must first 
become Ensign, Adjutant, Staff-Captain, Major, 
Brigadier, Lieut. -Colonel, Colonel and finally 
Commissioner. It is a hard job to rise, because 
the Salvation Army is already too heavy at the top. 

The appointments in this vast and complex 
organization are usually made semi-annually, ex- 
cept in the higher staff ranks. The orders for the 
field officers come from National Headquarters, 
and are supposed to be based upon recommen- 

12 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

dations from the Divisional Officers. These ord- 
ers must be obeyed, or the officer's commission 
is forfeited. Many become discouraged every 
year and leave the movement, swelling the ranks 
of ex-officers, who, in Army parlance, are dubbed : 
"The Great Majority.'' An English publication 
says: 

The resignation of leading officers in the Salvation 
Army goes on. Since we last drew attention to this 
symptom of disintegration, 200 Staff and Field officers, 
among others, have thrown up their commissions. The 
most notable is Colonel Miles, of the United States, 
who was regarded as a bulwark of strength to the 
corps. The Colonel was applauded as the "Demos- 
thenes of the Salvation Army in America." A story 
is told of how, on one occasion, at a great gathering 
in Philadelphia, Miss Booth resented the Colonel's elo- 
quence on the ground that it detracted from her influ- 
ence as a speaker. "Two Hamlets," she declared, 
"spoiled the play." He is gone. 

The Booth control of the Salvation Army is 
absolutely autocratic. A recent London dispatch 
has the following : 

The world's congress of the Salvation Army will 
open here tomorrow. A large number of delegates 
have already arrived and it is expected that during 
the next two weeks there will be more present; more 
than 5,000 delegates from every corner of the world. 
"It is not a congress in the true sense of the word, 
however," Brigadier Perry, the organizer of the 
army's work in this country, has explained, "because 
we have no debates or discussions." 

No, for the poor under-dogs can only listen, 
and obey. They ajre destined to spend their 
lives in hard service, without any hope of re- 

13 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

ward except the little good they can do for suffer- 
ing humanity now and then. 

The Salvation Army Soldiers 

are the unpaid volunteers, composing the local 
corps, who support themselves at daily toil, and 
put their spare time into the religious meetings. 
They cut no ice in the movement at all, having 
absolutely no voice in anything, and not allowed 
to question the commands of their superior 
officers. The following is a part of the oath 
administered to them at the time of their join- 
ing, when they are "sworn in" under the Army 
flag: 

"I do here and now acknowledge publicly that the 
Salvation Army has been created by God, and is sus- 
tained and directed by Hirn, and I do here declare 
my full determination to be a true soldier of the Army 
till I die I do here declare that I will en- 
deavor to carry out the instructions of my officers, 
and the orders and regulations of the Army, and that 
I will be an example of faithfulness to its principles, 
advance to the utmost of my ability its operations, and 
never allow, where I can prevent it, any injury to its 
interests, or hindrance to its success." 

In the published statistics neither the num- 
ber of soldiers nor the number of officers are 
given. The "enrollment" will show a great 
decline, especially in recent years. 



14 



CHAPTER II 

OTHER KINDRED ORGANIZATIONS. 

The writer feels it to be necessary to call the 
reader's attention to the multiplicity of organi- 
zations which have sprung up over the country 
operating along lines similar to the Booth Army. 
The oldest of these is an organization known as 
the "American" Salvation Army, which in many 
parts of the country did splendid work for years. 
Its origin is as follows : 

Shortly after the Salvation Army work was started 
in America, Major Thomas E. Moore was sent by 
General Booth to take charge. A difference of opinion 
soon arose between them, the Major contending that 
all funds received in this country should be used in the 
work here, and not a certain percentage sent to Eng- 
land, as was the case at that time. Also that the 
work in this country should have an American charter. 
To all of this the General strenuously objected, with 
the result that Major Moore withdrew in 1884, and, 
with the larger part of the officers over here, formed 
an ''American Salvation Army," incorporating it in 
the state of New York, and copyrighting the "War 
Cry" as the official publication of the new movement. 
Moore later resigned, and was succeeded by various 
"Generals," until finally one James Wm. Duffin became 
the chief commander in 1896, incorporating the Ameri- 
can Army in Pennsylvania, and attaining some measure 
of success. Early in the year 1913, after losing an 
injunction suit brought against him by the Booth 
Army, he changed the name of his movement to the 

15 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

"American Rescue Workers;" a consideration of $4,100 
being paid him by the Booth Army. An attempt was 
made by some of the American Army officers in Neb- 
raska to continue under the old name, and the latest 
move in the game was the action of the Booth Army 
in bringing suit against the Nebraska corporation in 
the Federal Court at Lincoln, asking for an injunc- 
tion preventing the Nebraska organization from doing 
business under their present name. The issue has not 
yet been decided, but the outcome is not hard to de- 
termine. 

The Volunteers of America 

is a movement similar to the Salvation Army, 
which was organized in 1896 by Ballington 
Booth, son of the old General. He had for nine 
years previous been in command of the Salvation 
Army in the United States. Disagreeing with 
his father in certain deep-seated principles, he 
was summarily removed from his command. A 
large number of the people of New York held a 
meeting in Carnegie Hall to protest against the 
removal from America of Ballington Booth. Sena- 
tor Depew presided over the meeting, while the 
mayor of the city, bishops and leading divines of 
the various churches were the principal speakers. 
The protest, however, was unavailing. Then 
it was that Ballington, at the urgent request of 
friends and supporters, with a large number of 
officers and soldiers, withdrew and formed the 
"Volunteers of America. " In a statement issued 
by one of the champions of the new movement, 
it was said that: 

The main difference between the two organizations 
is that of government, the one-man power on one 
hand and representative government on the other. If 

16 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

one man has the right and power to organize, govern 
and frame laws, he will by the same power have the 
right to disband the society. In the Salvation Army, 
in the earlier days of its organization, what reallv 
seemed to the workers to be proper and even requisite 
by way of rules and methods, at that primitive stage 
of slum revivalism, would be entirely out of date now, 
and the only wonder is that the advisers of the Sal- 
vation Army's chief executive should not have seen 
the need of radical changes in his regulations, and 
especially so in relation to the work in foreign fields. 

Mr. Ballington Booth has continued at the head 
of the Volunteers, but it is not as strong as it 
was at one time, and must itself undergo many 
radical changes if it is to continue of any perma- 
nent value to society. 

In addition to these three generally accepted 
organizations, there are many other 

Petty Insignificant Concerns 

that prey upon the credulity of the unsuspecting 
public, soliciting funds for charities that never 
exist. Among the many I have come in contact 
with are: The Gospel Army, The Redeemer's 
Army, The Christian Army, The Christian 
Union Army, The American Volunteer Army, 
The Christian Volunteers, The Christian Volun- 
teer Association, The American Salvationists 
(different from the American Salvation Army) 
The Samaritan Army, The Samaritan Christian 
Army, and countless others in all parts of the 
land. Recently a local banker called upon the 
writer for information concerning the "Samari- 
tan Volunteers," which I unhesitatingly called 

17 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

a graft. Going to my study and searching 
through a vast accumulation of information con- 
cerning various "armies," I found the following: 

Solicitors for Funds Arrested 

Grand Island, Neb., Dec. 25. — Mr. and Mrs. F. E. 
Hulen yesterday were arrested here charged with ob- 
taining money under false pretenses. Hulen was sen- 
tenced to 20 days in the county jail and Mrs. Hulen 
was fined $5 and costs of prosecution. 

Hulen, who styles himself "Commander-in-Chief of 
the Samaritan Volunteers." has been collecting money 
ostensibly for a religious and charitable organization. 
A search was made through the effects of the couple 
by County Attorney Cunningham and disclosed many 
account books wherein a list of donations have been 
kept. As this method of bookkeeping has been in 
use for several years, a sum of money running into 
the thousands of dollars from people in towns all 
over Nebraska is shown. 

The couple have been in Grand Island for several 
weeks and during this time have called on the people 
in the adjacent towns for donations and also old 
clothes. In their trunk were found a great many good 
dresses and suits. 

The average intelligence of these self-styled 
"commanders" is indicated in the following: 

CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEERS ASSOCIATION 

Incorporated June 2, 1911. 
P. H. GAMMEL, General-in-Chief. 
National Headquarters, 
Lincoln, Nebr., July 14, 1913. 

Dear Friend General : 

I will write to you a D using infame 

langues and insulting langues on the Public highways 
that he called these langues before children men and 
weman. I don't believe he is compleat for the ranks 

IS 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 



you gave him that the people they are not satdifide 
with them. You don't need to write to wahoo you can 
go and find out by the furniture and undertaking store 
and you can even find out in Fremont and I think 
it is time to make a hault with such work and even 
today by me walking on the streets of Fremont that 
he had ensulted two bussiness on the street think it 
is the best to remove him from the city and save 
your work in this city. My Dear (over) Brother in 
Christ Our Lord. 

GEN. P. H. GAMMEL, 

Fremont, Neb., 

Davenport Hotel. 

Will not the reader agree with me that it is 
high time the public was informed on these mat- 
ters, and that a stop should be put to this kind 
of Charity Graft? 



19 



CHAPTER III 

RIVAL ARMIES FIGHT EACH OTHER 

The Booth Army in recent years has been 
making a desperate effort to perpetuate itself, 
and possess the field of operations in its entirety. 
To accomplish its purpose in driving out all rival 
organizations it has not hesitated to use means, 
both fair and foul, to invoke the aid of the courts, 
and to spend thousands of dollars,, which, in the 
very nature of things, ought to have been used 
in missionary and charitable work among the 
poor. In the language of the daily press, "A real 
war it is, with real armies engaged, and real 
officers, in real uniforms, in command. There 
will be no bloodshed, no bruised bodies, for these 
armies do not fight in that fashion, but a war it 
will be none the less." 

Most wars are conducted for profit, or com- 
mercial gain. The "Salvation" war is no excep- 
tion to the rule, according to the confession of 
one of the leading staff-officers of the Booth 
Army, who, in commenting on the fight against 
a similar army, said: "They dared to forage on 
our sources of supply." 

The Booth Army, known legally as the "Sal- 
vation Army in the United States," served a 
summons and complaint on General James Wil- 
liam Duffin on November 27, 1907, for the pur- 
pose of enjoining the American Salvation Army 

21 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

"from using the name American Salvation Army or 
a name so nearly resembling it, from using uniforms, 
insignia or badges of office similar to and resembling 
the uniforms, insignia or badges adopted and used by 
the officers of the plaintiff; from printing and publish- 
ing, selling or offering for sale copies of a paper known 
as 'The War Cry,' and from printing postal cards and 
other literature in form resembling that used by the 
plaintiff; and from making any representations lead- 
ing the public to believe that the defendant is the 
plaintiff for the purpose of securing credit or sub- 
sciptions, contributions of money and donations, and 
real and personal property." 

Service on this was made about the middle of 
December. The Salvation Army had employed 
ex-Judge D. Cady Herrick, the brilliant advocate 
retained by Gov. Sulzer to defend him in the 
famous New York impeachment case, also Geo. 
C. Lay and Frederick W. Garvin, connected with 
a well-known firm of corporation lawyers, and 
a lawyer-officer known as Brigadier Ferris, who 
formed an imposing array of counsel for the 
plaintiff. Gen. Duffin, acting for the American 
Army, employed an ordinary attorney, who se- 
cured a stay of the proceedings until Jan. 7th, 
when an order was secured from Justice New- 
berger vacating, dissolving and annulling the in- 
junction. 

The Booth Army was determined to crush the 
insurgent movement, so the services of these 
high-priced attorneys were continued, and an ap- 
peal was taken, in which many of their officers 
in all parts of the nation were compelled to come 
and take part. No expense was spared. But in 
this trial the decision was again in favor of the 

22 



HE 



SALVATION ARMY TODAY 



American Army, and the Justice who rendered 
the decision, now the United States 

Senator O'Gorman, Was Severely Roasted 

in a letter written by Brigadier Ferris, in which 
he said: 

"We were horror-strickened and surprised at the 
decision rendered against us by the Judge who pre- 
sided over the four days' trial of the Salvation Army 
against the A. S. A. We could not, and cannot yet, 
understand the cause of the somersault after his atti- 
tude^ and rulings in the court at the time of the trial. 
I think that Catholicism had something to do with it. 
However, his reasons are something rotten. He 
simply expresses his own opinion, which is entirely 
contrary to the evidence that was presented. .... 
We are appealing the case to the Appellate Term to 
be argued before five judges, and we have no doubt 
in the world of a reversal of this harlequin's mani- 
festo." 

According* to this prophecy, nearly a year later 
five judges of the Appellate Division of the Su- 
preme Court of the County of New York re- 
versed the judgment in favor of the defendant, 
and ordered a new trial. This hearing w r as ob- 
tained on April 15, 1910, before Justice Charles 
W. Dayton, of the New York County Supreme 
Court, and resulted in an opinion establishing 
the right of the Salvation Army to x a permanent 
injunction against the American Salvation Army. 
From this decision the American Army took its 
first appeal, but the higher court at Albany sus- 
tained the decision of the lower court. 

The easiest possible manner for General Duffin 

23 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

to withdraw from further litigation wich the 
Booth Army was for him to accept their propo- 
sition to change the name of his organization for 
a consideration of $4,100, which change took place 
on the 12th day of April, 1913, and closes the 
history of one of the most remarkable cases of 
religious persecution, based on financial consid- 
erations, ever recorded in the annals of the 
American courts, and fully establishes in this 
country 

A Salvation Army Trust. 

This action,, of course, was merely the cul- 
mination of a long series of petty persecutions 
waged against the smaller organization on the 
part of the officers and paid agents of the Booth 
concern, which started in the year 1907, when 
the American movement began to spread over 
the country in a very aggressive manner. In At- 
lanta, Ga., the battle waxed fierce with the out- 
come indicated in the following newspaper 
article : 

MAYOR JOYNER REFUSES TO DENY 

STREETS TO ONE OF THE ARMIES 

AT REQUEST OF OTHER 

Mayor Joyner announced Thursday morning his 
positive declination to take any hand in the differences 
which have been existing- for some time between the 
two Salvation armies now operating in the city. 

Some days ago, the older army made complaint 
against the new one. Charges against the personality 
of some of the members of the newer army were made 

24 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

to the mayor, and the statement was made to him 
that they were fakirs. As the older army had been 
allowed the use of the streets for an indefinite time, 
it was requested of the mayor, that in view of the 
charges filed, that he deny the use of the streets to 
the soldiers of the new army. 

Mayor Joyner at once turned the matter over to 
the City Warden, Tom Evans, with instructions that 
a full investigation be made. Warden Evans reported 
to the mayor Thursday morning that he had gone to 
the bottom of the question, and that so far as the 
local situation was concerned, he was unable to make 
any recommendation that one army be excluded at 
the request of the other. Warden Evans stated that 
both armies were holding street meetings, both mak- 
ing street collections, and both, as far as he could 
see, were engaged in the same avocation, and he was 
unwilling to recommend that the newer army be put 
off the streets as requested. 

Mayor Joyner, following the statement of Warden 
Evans, announced his declination to take any part in 
the row, and stated that he would permit the con- 
tending armies to fight the battle out between them- 
selves. 

The cartoon shown on another page ap- 
peared in the xAtlanta Journal about this time, 
which was a source of much amusement to the 
public. 

In Birmingham, Ala., the same misrepresenta- 
tions were made to the mayor, who, instead of 
investigating, pre-emptorily ordered the Ameri- 
can Army off the streets. They, of course, re- 
fused to discontinue their meetings as long as 
the Booth Army was allowed to continue, with 
the result that 

Four Officers Were Arrested 

searched like criminals, and put in the common 

25 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

"bull pen," until some business men secured their 
release on bail. 

The Birmingham papers reported that: 

"The arrest of the four was caused by a sweeping 
order of the mayor, who demanded that they leave 
the city. It is understood that the order of the mayor 
was caused by pressure being brought to bear on him 
by members of the old Salvation Army, who charged 
that the newcomers were street swindlers. The trial 
of the four men will be held in Judge Feagin's court 
Wednesday." 

Judge Feagin was a heavy contributor to the 
Booth Army, and prejudiced in their favor, but 
he was forced to release the American Army 
officers, and the mayor, now convinced of his 
mistake, gave them permission to go on with 
their work. 

The same thing was repeated in Columbus, 
Ohio, where the papers reported the "whole sec- 
tion of American Salvationists" as being- 



*& 



"Rounded up by the Police" 

In full uniform of the organization with tambour- 
ines and other musical instruments, the entire Colum- 
bus section of the ''American Salvation Army," men 
and women, was landed in the city prison Saturda}' 
night to answer to a charge of loitering and ignoring 
the order of Chief of Police O'Connor, forbidding the 
organization to hold meetings on street corners. 

At the police station the entire party was slated 
and searched as all prisoners are and were then placed 
behind the bars. 

Major Edwy White, in command of the "regulars" 
in this district, the organization that was founded by 
General William Booth of London, has been instru- 
mental in having the police department suppress the 
meetings of the "American Salvation Army" in Co- 
lumbus. 

26 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

This case was fought out in a jury trial last- 
ing four days, which resulted in a disagreement. 
It was finally dismissed, and the American Army 
allowed to continue its work in Columbus. 

In Washington, D. C, the whole matter was 
summed up in the following affidavit: 

I, J. B. McLaughlin, on oath say: That I am a 
practicing lawyer, and have been since 1869, and also 
ordained Methodist minister, and have been such since 
1884, and in good standing both in law and the gospel; 
that I have known of the American Salvation Army 
ever since it came to Washington. D. C; that in 
the last year and a half I have watched it very care- 
fully, being called into a controversy between the 
Salvation Army in the United States and the Ameri- 
can Salvation Army in reference to its work over 
a year ago; that I then examined very carefully and 
thoroughly its efforts and operations; that I found 
those in charge of the American Salvation Army 
making every laudible effort against vast odds and 
opposition, while their opponents, the Salvation Army 
in the United States, have been bitter, relentless and 
persecuting in the extreme. 

(Signed) j. b. Mclaughlin. 

The hatred and vindictiveness of the Booth 
Army has not alone been directed towards the 
American Salvation Army, but also towards the 
Volunteers of America. Bishop Smith, while 
editor of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, 
(Methodist) wrote: 

The representations made to you by the officers of 
the Salvation Army concerning the American Vol- 
unteers are false and slanderous. I do not have the 
personal acquaintance of many officers of either of 
these armies, but I am sure that those of the American 
Volunteers will compare well with those of the Salva- 
tion Army, in every respect. The feeling of the Sal- 
vation Army toward the American Volunteers is 

27 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

anything but friendly, or Christian. I am sorry they 
show such an ugly spirit and make such unjust repre- 
sentations. 

The tragedy of the whole business is, that 
this fight among these Armies, carried on for 
years through the courts and in the daily press, 
has cost many thousands of dollars, which the 
charitably inclined public had to pay. 



28 



CHAPTER IV 

MORAL ASPECTS OF THE SITUATION 

The saloon collecting of the Salvation Armies 
is an infamous practice — a method of financing 
a religious and charitable institution which is 
most debasing and humiliating. It is an outrage 
perpetrated upon innocent girls and women, and 
has furnished its quota of victims to the White 
Slave Traffic. 

There are many contributors to the Salvation 
Army, who, if they knew and understood the 
facts, would no longer give moral and financial 
support to such a movement. Think of a re- 
ligious system which sends pure, innocent girls 
into the midst of saloons, wine-rooms, dance- 
halls, etc., face-to-face with all kinds of crime 
and sin, for the purpose of begging money from 
the poor unfortunates and from those who visit 
such places. It is an easy matter for a hand- 
some Salvation lassie to induce men, partly in- 
toxicated, to part with their money. What a 
black spot on the fair name of Christianity! 
The Salvation Army has simply gone mad in 
its lust for money, and having instituted this 
shameful practice, other kindred organizations 
have taken to "feeding from the same trough." 
Our large cities are being over-run with 
"armies" and "missions" depending for their 

29 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

existence upon this form of graft. Many cities 
like Kansas City, and Lincoln, Nebr., have taken 
action preventing such methods. The following 
for instance, from Kansas City: 

The jangle of tambourines shaken by Salvation Army 
lassies no longer will be heard in the saloons in 
Kansas City. The order issued by Chief of Police 
Griffin barring women solicitors of small change from 
entering bar rooms is being conformed to by the 
sisters from the citadel, according to Major Harris 
of the Salvation Army, who said, "We were not so 
persistent in our calls as some solicitors of organiza- 
tions, but as long as the order has been issued we 
will obey it." 

The same paper, in a later issue, has the fol- 
lowing : 

Lillian Black, sent to the workhouse for entering a 
saloon in the course of her religious work, and re- 
leased yesterday under a writ of habeas corpus, objects 
to being called a "Salvation Army kssie." "We are 
not solicitors for charity," she said yesterday. ^ "We 
are known as Christian Messengers, and our mission is 
devoted entirely to gospel mission work." 

What a travesty upon the gospel! In this in- 
cident we see the fruit: 

Three persons convicted of acting as white slave 
agents were sentenced to two years and three months 
imprisonment in the federal prison at Fort Leaven- 
worth, Kan., and fined $100 each by Judge Smith Mc- 
Pherson in the United States district court here today. 
The prisoners are A. E. Stineman, Mrs. Margaret Let- 
terman and J. H. Warfield, a Salvation Army man, 
all of Kansas City. 



3« 



CHAPTER V 
A POPULAR AND LUXURIOUS STAFF 

In the early days William Booth was sneered 
at as a mountebank, and was accused by church- 
men of bringing religion into contempt. "But 
when he died," says the Presbyterian Banner, 
"The death of no king, or emperor or president, 
or pope, would have rolled a wave of grief over 
so many lands and into so many hearts. Queens 
and emperors sent wreaths of flowers for his 
coffin, and hardly an outcast in England has not 
felt his passing/' 

There is no doubt that General Booth was 
every whit deserving of such immense popularity. 
But the methods sometimes practiced by his chief 
officers to perpetuate that popularity and keep 
the movement in the public eye is not always 
commendable. 

Upon the occasion of the eightieth birthday 
of the old General, messages of congratulation 
were sent him by many prominent Americans, in- 
cluding the governors of various states and the 
mayors of many cities. These were all published 
in the London and New York War Crys, and 
had the appearance of being voluntary expres- 
sions of good will from these representatives of 
the American public. However, a unique method 
was pursued to accomplish it. A communica- 

31 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

tion like the following was sent the officers in 

charge of the larger corps throughout the United 

States : 

My Dear Captain: Enclosed you will please find a 
letter that I have received from headquarters. By this 
letter you will notice that the Commander is very 
anxious that the mayors from several cities in Texas 
send the General a cablegram. Therefore I wish you 
would go personally and see the mayor of Ft. Worth, 
and tell him what you want. Get him to give you 
the message at once, and you can send it on to London 
by cable. Please let me have a copy of the message 
as soon as possible, so I can send it on to headquar- 
ters. Give this important matter your personal atten- 
tion at once. Faithfully, 

ALFRED HARRIS, 

Major. 

From the Commander, Miss Booth 

In connection with the celebration of the General's 
80th birthday which as you know takes place on the 
10th of April, the Commander has conceived the idea 
of getting the governors of the different states and 
also the mayors of the largest cities to cable a message 
of congratulation Ito the General. 

They must be dispatched on time so to reach Lon- 
don on Saturday morning, April 10th. It is very es- 
sential that we should know that the messages have 
really been sent and the Commander therefore thinks 
that instead of trusting the matters to the secretaries 
of these gentlemen concerned, the best and surest 
way would be to dispatch them ourselves in their name. 

With regard to the expense of sending the cable- 
grams, the Commander suggests that it will probably 
be healthy to our prospects if we were to offer to pay 
the expense of sending these messages. 

There is no doubt that these messages will be im- 
mensely appreciated by the General. The idea is cer- 
tainly an unique one and will put America in the 
front rank position as regards the world with honors 
shown to the General at this time. 

The funds which paid for the sending of these 

32 



F5« 







BaHe 




A FEW OF THE SALVATION ARMY REAL ESTATE HOLD- 
INGS TITLE TO ALL SALVATION ARMY PROPERTY IS 
VESTED ABSOLUTELY IN GENERAL BOOTH. THE PROP- 
ERTY IN THIS COUNTRY IS ESTIMATED AT SOME- 
THING LIKE FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS. 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

numerous cablegrams to the General in London, 
and repeated in telegrams to the New York head- 
quarters, came from the contributions of the pub- 
lic — people who thought they were giving to re- 
ligion and to charity. 

While it may be true, that the head men of 
the Salvation Army are deserving of much honor, 
it is plainly evident that there is too much dis- 
tinction between the Staff Officers with an as- 
sured income, and the field officers, who do the 
hard work and bear the brunt of the battle- The 
Staff live in good homes in select neighborhoods, 
paid for with funds collected from the public. 
When they travel, they generally occupy 
Pullman berths, take their meals in dining cars, 
and stop at the best hotels. When several of 
them came to a Southern city, to make an inspec- 
tion and deliver a few speeches, the mayor wrote 
to the captain there, and said: 

"Please let me know what hotel you have arranged 
for the Commissioner and his party. The party will 
consist of Commissioner Estill, Colonel French, Briga- 
dier Wood, Colonel Addie and Mrs. Harris and myself." 

And thus are the staff entertained. 

While Major Harris was Division Officer in 
Dallas, Tex., he had his office fitted up very com- 
fortably in his home, which was amply large for 
that purpose, but when he was succeeded by 
another Major with more aristocratic tastes, a 
magnificent suite of rooms in the finest office 
building in the city was secured, at a monthly 
rental of $45.00, all of which was paid for by the 
"dear public." 

n 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

When these high officers feel the need of an 
ocean trip, or a change of climate, it is arranged 
for about as follows: 

My Dear Captain: 

I am sure you will be interested to know that Mrs. 
Wood and I are planning to make a trip this summer 
to England. ..... Now the Provincial funds are 

not in a condition that we can draw upon them for 
our expenses. Several officers who knew of our desire 
have promised to help, and I am writing to lay the 
matter before you. If the corps, or yourself, or both, 
can make us a donation for this purpose Mrs. Wood 
and I will appreciate it very much. I am confident 
you will make it as large as circumstances will war- 
rant. Yours, etc., 

GEORGE WOOD, Brigadier, 

General Secretary. 

Now what is a poor field officer to do when 
he receives a demand like this? For though it 
is veiled in the form of a request, it is neverthe- 
less a demand, and the field officer, knowing that 
his next appointment as well as his promotion 
depends largely upon the pleasure of this man, 
there is only one thing he can do, and that is 
to go out and pull some door bells, tell of the 
awful poverty abounding on every hand, and 
beg enough, dime by dime, to enable him to make 
a generous donation to the Brigadier's European 
trip. 

Whoever heard of a poor field-officer taking 
such a trip ! No, they must bend their backs 
and do the hustling to maintain the expense of 
this vast system- The shame of it! 

The above instances of luxury and ease can 
be duplicated in the Salvation Army countless 

34 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

times over. In a news dispatch concerning the 
trip of General Bramwell Booth to this country, 
it was stated that he traveled like a prince, occu- 
pying a magnificent suite of state-rooms on the 
ocean liner such as are usually occupied by 
v\realth and royalty, costing a large sum of money. 
How different from the early days, when the Sal- 
vation Army was a great spiritual power. 



35 



CHAPTER VI 

ITS FINANCIAL INTERESTS 

"The work of the Salvation Army is largely 
subservient to financial interests'' charges the 
president of a national gathering of the associ- 
ated charities. This is, in a measure, true. It 
is the cause of the present spiritual decline, so 
observant in many corps. 

The Salvation Army is an incorporated insti- 
tution, qualified to not only hold property, but 
to engage in business. It does this on a larger 
scale than most people have any idea of. The 
certificate of incorporation of "The Salvation 
Army in the United States" is a most extraor- 
dinary document. The incorporation was effected 
by a special act of the New York Legislature, 
on April 28, 1899, and cost the Salvation Army 
nearly three thousand dollars in cold cash. In 
this certificate of incorporation it provides that 
the absolute control be invested in an alien 
"General for the time being," and neither he nor 
the other members of the Board appointed by 
and subject to him are required to be citizens of 
this country. Every piece of property owned by 
the Salvation Army in the United States is deeded 
to this board. The property value so deeded and 
controlled is estimated to be $15,000,000.00. 

A great demand is being made for funds by this 

37 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

organization upon the Christian and business 
public. On the streets, in the stores, office build- 
ings, private residences, saloons and brothels of 
our cities can be found daily the solicitors and 
collectors of the Salvation Army. Many think 
that such funds are used largely in relief work. 
My estimate is that scarcely ten per cent is used 
in the actual relief of the poor; that fully ninety 
per cent goes for operating expenses. The claim 
is that the Salvation Army is more a spiritual 
than it is a charity organization, and the salaries 
and expenses of its officers, and the maintenance 
of its halls, and other institutions, is a legitimate 
item of expense. 

Granted that this is true. But remove from 
the minds of the people the charity idea and 
the collections will fall off materially. Then ac- 
quaint the public with the figures embraced in 
the increasing number of properties owned by 
the army — office buildings, hotels, citadels, resi- 
dences, etc., the value of which is now more than 
fifteen millions of dollars, the title to which is 
vested in the General, and the public collections 
will further show a substantial decrease. 

The salary question of the Salvation Army is 
an immense one. The field officers, in charge of 
the local corps, receive none too much. Their 
work is hard. Living comes high. There is 
little chance to save anything for the inevitable 
rainy day. The large staff force is doubtless in- 
dispensable for the maintenance of the move- 
ment. But in justice to the contributors there 

38 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

should be a separation of funds, and in soliciting 
it should be made plain the particular use 
to which such contributions are put. This could 
be easly done, for each officer is required by the 
regulations to secure a receipt for every penny 
given or paid to any one, and is strictly required 
to keep an exact record of all income and other 
financial transactions. 

But does the Salvation Army want the public 
to know about these things? Whether they do 
or not, the press of the country is beginning to 
"catch on to the game," and reports like the fol- 
lowing from an Idaho paper are constantly ap- 
pearing : 

THE SALVATION ARMIES ARE THE BIGGEST 
GRAFTS ON EARTH— GETTING EVERY- 
THING FOR NOTHING THEY GIVE FOR 
CHARITY LESS THAN TEN PER CENT, 
AND PAY FORTY -SEVEN PER CENT 
ANNUALLY ON THEIR BONDS — DIS- 
CREDITED WHERE FOUND OUT. 
The Salvation Armies are the biggest grafting or- 
ganizations on earth. 

They beg all that they can — clothing, provisions, sta- 
tionery, newspapers, rent, printing, water, lights, bed- 
ding, practically everything that they need. All this is 
given to them either free of charge or at less than 
cost and they sell everything at enormous profits. 

Of all collections and cash receipts 10 per cent goes 
to the general, 10 per cent to the divisional officer 
and the balance to the subordinate officers. 

Probably about 10 per cent, donated or paid the 
Army is actually spent in charity. That is, of the 
gross, 90 per cent or more is graft. 

The Supreme Graft 
Twice a year the whole Army is given a "target. " 
Each corps (or city or town organization) is required 
to donate a sum apportioned by the general. This 

39 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

happens twice a year, and millions of dollars are 
sent to London. England, upon those occasions. In 
the spring it is a "self-denial target." In the fall a 
"harvest festival target." All farm produce, clothing 
and everything else donated on such occasions is sold 
at army headquarters for cash in hand and the money 
sent to the General. When it is known that a cit> r 
the size of Hailey, for instance, is expected to shoot 
at least $90 at each semi-annual target, a city like 
Boise at least $500 a target, and when there are tens 
of thousands of such corps throughout the civilized 
world, an idea may be formed of the enormous size 
of the graft. 

In every place as large as Boise or larger, there 
are Salvation Army industrial stores, where everything, 
including furniture, is solicited to give to the poor, but 
not so much as a button is given away. Even old 
papers and rags are sold for $15 a ton. Everything 
is sold for cash, and every cent of this, outside of 
expenses, goes to the General. Is it any wonder that 
General Booth, the pauper founder of the Salvation 
Army, died a multi-millionaire? 

The Salvation Army Discredited 

The Salvation Army is becoming discredited every- 
where. In Denver, Col., last fall, for instance, the 
Army proposed to raise $500,000 for a Rescue Home. 
The Business Men's Association and the city author- 
ities refused to permit them to solicit. They would 
not even allow them a "tag day." The Salvation Army 
beggars were told to use some of their surplus to 
build the home, inasmuch as they had a capital of 
$60,000,000 and paid A7 J / 2 per cent per annum upon 
their industrial bonds. 

What About Self-Denial? 

In the above article there are some minor in- 
accuracies, but in the main it is true. Of the or- 
dinary collections, at least twelve per cent is sent 
in to headquarters each week from the local 
corps. Twice each year^ in addition to the or- 

40 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

dinary collections, and to the extra effort at 
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and sum- 
mer outings, there is made a still further demand 
upon the officer, and he in turn upon a long suffer- 
ing public, for funds known as self-denial and 
harvest-festival collections. The tax is made by 
headquarters, and the corps officer is required to 
make all other features of the work secondary 
for the time being, and devote his attention to 
raising these "targets." 

I have before me as I write an "official state- 
ment" of disbursement of self-denial funds for 
one year in the western half of the United States. 
The total amount raised was $53,200. This of- 
ficial statement shows that at least one half of 
this amount was consumed in expenses before 
it reached the department it was intended for, 
And then there is yet the rent, equipment and 
maintenance of the buildings used by these de- 
partments to come out of the money collected, 
as well as the salaries of the officers of those 
departments. A conservative estimate is that 
about ten per cent of Army funds go directly to 
the ones intended to be reached. 

Think this through ! 

The Christmas Dinners 

to the poor, is a scheme for the Salvation Army 
to get more money from the public. Once in 
time they served a beneficent purpose, but now 
the various charity associations, lodges and 
churches let none escape without plenty of 

41 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

Christmas cheer. But the Salvation Army pots 
must be kept boiling by the public just the same. 
It is high time the American people were put 
wise, and stopped throwing their money away. 
In one city recently the papers reported that: 

"The Army this year received liberally from mer- 
chants and others in the way of helping fill the bas- 
kets for the poor and set the dinner for the young 
men. Contributions on the street were fairly satis- 
factory to officers of the Army, amounting to a total 
of about $103." 

A small town, evidently. In most cities the 
cost runs up into several hundreds, and the mer- 
chants give practically all the food needed. The 
writer has access to the record of one Christmas 
dinner fund in which over $400 was collected, 
and the expense of $263, consisted of $53 for 
groceries, and $210 paid to "help." The balance 
of $137 was divided between the local post and 
the Major at Headquarters. 

The Captain of the Volunteers in Lincoln, 
Nebr., last year frankly stated through the papers 
that all cash receipts went to pay help, while the 
food was given by the wholesale houses. Re- 
member this, the next time you pass a Salva- 
tion Army pot or tambourine. 

If this isn't graft, what American word will 
suit better? 

Of course there are exceptions. 



42 



CHAPTER VII 

OTHER FINANCIAL SCHEMES 

The Salvation Army in its so-called social 
work, instead of uplifting the masses of helpless 
poor from the slums of the large cities of the 
country, has become the competitor of ordinary 
tradesmen and workmen in the manufacture and 
sale of innumerable articles of public utility. It 
would take a book many times larger than this 
is designed to be in order to enumerate and ex- 
plain the various financial and trade schemes of 
the Salvation Army, such as "The Reliance Trad- 
ing Company/' which incorporated under the 
laws of the State of New Jersey and capitalized 
at $300,000.00, being a consolidation of other Sal- 
vation Army concerns known as the "Post 
Fountain Pen Co.," the "National Printing and 
Publishing House," the "Book Bindery Co.," the 
"People's Registry Co.," the "Electrical Con- 
struction Co.," the "Reliance Outfitting and Tail- 
oring Co.," and the "Army Supply Stores." 

A recent London dispatch says: 

General Booth, head of the Salvation Army, cabled 
approving the purchase of 10,000 acres of irrigated 
land, south of Calgary, Alberta, from the Canadian 
Pacific Railway, on which he will settle a party from 
the slums of London this year. 

Their Colonization Scheme 
was attempted in this country, but ended in dis- 

43 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

mal failure, and while yet carried on in name 
with three supposed colonies, it has really de- 
generated into an ordinary real estate agency. 
The writer recently saw a letter from Colonel 
Holland, in which he said: 

"We have a large body of land on the Amity Colony, 
which we intend to sell in the ordinary way, and, to 
do so without unnecessary delay, we are willing to pay 
such a commission to agents as will justify them in 
giving special attention to our proposition. We think 
this will pay us better than spreading our sales out 
over a period of years. The colony is located, etc., 
and prices vary in accordance with close- 
ness to town, improvements, etc., ranging from one 
hundred dollars an acre. Rather than take years to 
sell our land we prefer to offer such inducements to 
agents as will justify them in giving very special atten- 
tion to our work, and consequently, instead of offer- 
ing the usual five per cent we are quite willing to 
make it ten to agents under contract with us. You 
will see, therefore, what a splendid offer we are making. 
In addition to our own land, we are agents for most 
of what is for sale in the surrounding country. Hop- 
ing to hear from you that you will be able to do 
business for us, I am," etc. 

Why should the charitably inclined of this 
country give money to the Salvation Army to 
help them finance such profitable real estate 
deals? 

Let us cut it out. 

The Industrial Homes Company 

The above was the name of a stock company, 
incorporated under the laws of the State of New 
Jersey on June 17, 1903, authorized capital of 
$500,000.00, selling stock to anyone who had the 
price of a share, and operated by the Salvation 
Army for the purpose of gathering up old clothes, 

44 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

paper, rags, furniture, junk, etc., and selling same 
to the paper and junk dealers, and to the 
"worthy poor" of the large cities at a price that 
would enable the corporation to support their 
officers, pay their solicitors and drivers, care for 
the teams used in collecting, pay rent for stores, 
offices, etc., and also pay good dividends on the 
money invested by the various stockholders. 

This so-called "industrial work" of the Salva- 
tion Army has been introduced into every town 
and city where such a department can be profit- 
ably conducted. 

The Salvation Army holds a controlling in- 
terest in the preferred and common stock of the 
Industrial Homes Company. The balance of 
stock is sold to the public. A dividend of six 
per cent is guaranteed on the preferred stock, 
while the common stock is said to have yielded 
as high as twelve per cent. 

While, on account of pressure being brought 
to bear upon this feature of the Army, the In- 
dustrial Homes Company was dissolved, the "in- 
dustrial work" of the Salvation Army continues 
along the same lines, and it would be well to 
bear this in mind the next time a clothing or 
junk collector of the Salvation Army comes to 
your door. The clothing is not, except in very 
rare instances, given to the worthy poor. It is 
sold for a good price. And the money is not 
used in the spiritual work of the Army. It is 
time that the American people were waking up 
to this form of "charity," carried on in the name 
of a religious organization. 

45 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

Through the courtesy of Mr. Whitten, secre- 
tary of the Lincoln, Nebr., Commercial Club, the 
writer had the privilege of examining their files 
for any information desired on this subject, and 
observed the following: 

"In a letter published in the Lincoln papers of 
March 31, 1912, Commissioner Estell asserts that the 
Industrial Homes Company has been dissolved. Yet 
we are in receipt of a statement dated April 3, from 
what is regarded as an authoritative New York source 
to the effect that the company is still in existence 
with same officers as reported in 1911. The failure of 
the Salvation Army to furnish the public with intel- 
ligible and reliable statistics of its financial transac- 
tions has given rise to severe criticism in both Great 
Britain and America. 

During the past year the sales (in Lincoln) amount- 
ed to $2,086.85, while furniture estimated as worth 
$48.00, and garments and shoes valued at $165.00 were 
given away. Poor families were also supplied with 
fuel and provisions to the amount of five dollars." 

A Hastings, Nebr., paper says: 

"The charity division of the Hastings Woman's 
club may be called upon at its meeting of this week 
to investigate distribution of clothing and other neces- 
sities by the Salvation Army. 

The mother of six small children called at the 
army headquarters this week, following an announce- 
ment in the daily papers that the worthy poor would 
be helped. She selected some dresses that would fit 
her little girls, but was informed that they would 
cost her 50 cents each. This was the story told when 
the mother called upon those in charge of the local 
charity organization and asked for aid. Thursday aft- 
ernoon another mother of several small children, called 
at the Army storehouse and she says she received the 
same reply. ,, 

In connection with this so-called industrial 
work of the Salvation Army, there are being con- 
ducted in various places institutions known as 

46 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

Salvation Army Hotels 

I can only briefly refer to such. Among the 
slums of our large cities, as well as in the more 
respectable poorer quarters, in competition with 
the cheapest lodging houses, are found these in- 
stitutions of the Salvation Army, formerly desig- 
nated "Workingmen's Shelters," but now gen- 
erally known by the more respectable title of 
"hotels." And of all the dirty, miserable, cheap 
lodging houses, where a dirty, "buggy" cot can 
be obtained for a dime, the Salvation Army "ho- 
tels" take the cake. Of course there are excep- 
tions. But go into the quarter of the city where 
these "shelters" are located, and ask the average 
habitue his opinion of these places, and he will 
reply in more striking language than I am us- 
ing here. There is simply no excuse for such 
institutions. They are as far removed from 
charity as Capitalism is from Socialism. 

A poor, distressed man wrote recently, saying: 

"My brother was killed in the Salvation Army fire 
in this city (Cincinnati) and at the coroner's inquest 
the testimony of the building inspector, fire marshal 
and police were that they had repeatedly been told 
to remedy the condition that existed there. They 
broke every building and safety law, and of course 
were let off with a mild reprimand." 

Why does the Salvation Army engage in such 
things? Simply because there is a financial 
profit connected with the running of same. God 
speed the day when the Salvation Army will go 
out, or be put out, of such business. 



47 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE REMEDY 

The reader's heart is no doubt sick and weary 
at the recital of these many abuses which have 
crept into this movement. Perhaps you are 
wondering what is best to do — in what way can 
the situation be remedied. 

The present spiritual condition of the Salvation 
Army can no longer be wondered at in the face 
of such facts as I have tried to picture in these 
pages. An organization brought into existence 
by the flaming zeal of a young evangelist, who 
in his heart said he "hungered for hell" when 
confronted with the opportunity for service 
among the outcasts of humanity, — an organiza- 
tion which has accomplished untold good in its 
day; it has now degenerated into a vast, com- 
plex machine whose object seems to be the ex- 
ploitation of the condition of the poor by means 
of its increasing financial schemes — and all for 
the purpose of supporting its great roll of staff 
"■fficers, and perpetuating its unholy system. 

~^o me there is but one remedy, and that is 
to force the Salvation Army to abandon its com- 
mercial pursuits, and return to its original work 
of spiritually saving the outcasts of humanity. 
And in order to accomplish this, it will be need- 
til for each municipality to take drastic meas- 

49 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

ures against these industrial and financial 
schemes. 

The Kansas City, Mo., Board of Public Wel- 
fare refused to endorse the Salvation Army as a 
charitable organization. 

The Cleveland, O., Chamber of Commerce 
failed to endorse the Salvation Army. 

The Charities Endorsement Committee of the 
Lincoln Commercial Club, Investigation Bureau, 
held several protracted meetings for the purpose 
of considering the charitable work of the Salva- 
tion Army, with the result that the committee 
"finds itself unable to give its endorsement to this 
work/' 

The Merchants and Manufacturers Associa- 
tion of Milwaukee, in a report on unworthy 
charities, said: "Your committee recognizes 
that there is a widespread, generous toleration 
of, and sympathy towards the Salvation Army 
and kindred organizations, prompted especially 
by their religious work. ... We venture to as- 
sert that not one person out of a hundred in 
our country knows that the Salvation Army is 
dual in character. The ninety and nine do not 
know that it manages and absolutely controls mer- 
cantile corporations; that these corporations are 
conducted for profit by which it is enabled to 
guarantee dividends in the form of interest to 
certain stockholders/' The Army failed to re- 
ceive their endorsement. 

The Los Angeles municipal charities commis- 
sion ruling, which halts all the charitable activ- 

50 



THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY 

ities of the Salvation Army there, was the out- 
come of an inquiry based upon an official allega- 
tion that the Army sent out of the city at least 
one-third of the revenues derived from the char- 
itably inclined, in defiance of a legal regulation 
which prescribes that all charity funds shall be 
used for the relief of the needy within the city 
of Los Angeles. The Salvation Army has no 
recourse except an appeal to a higher court. 

Similar action is being taken by many cities 
in various parts of the country. 

It will also be necessary for private individuals 
to cease making any contributions to the Salva- 
tion Armies, until a thorough regeneration takes 
place in their method and manner of operating. 

In conclusion, it is my hope that this great 
movement, which has occupied such a vast field 
of usefulness in the world, be restored to its 
original mission of preaching the Gospel of 
Christ to the lowly of earth, and to the service 
of a sincursed humanity. And if this message 
will in any way help to that end the writer will 
feel more than repaid for the effort he has put 
forth in its production. 

THE END. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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